5 of the Best Free Transfers in Football History
The 5 Best Free Transfers in Football History
Saudi Arabia is dominating headlines in football for the excessive spending of their Pro League clubs!
Here at The Sporting Blog, we’re taking a look at some of the best bargain acquisitions of all-time. Read on to find out more.
Lionel Messi is one of the greatest free transfers in football
Clubs could sign David De Gea, James Rodriguez and Eden Hazard for free after their respective contracts expired this summer, but who have been the best free transfers in football history?
James Milner moving from Manchester City to Liverpool (2015 - 2023) for nothing deserves a mention, as he went on to win one Premier League title, one Champions League, one FA Cup and one League Cup on Merseyside.
Steve McManaman moving from Liverpool to Real Madrid (1999 - 2003) for nothing is another honourable mention, as he won two La Liga titles and two Champions League crowns.
Read on for our top 5 best free transfers in football history!
Lionel Messi (Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain)
Barcelona’s financial crisis forced them to part with Lionel Messi
He won the Best FIFA Men’s Player in his debut season at PSG
Messi has now joined Inter Miami
PSG signing seven-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi on a free transfer in 2021 was something nobody expected, but Barcelona’s financial crisis forced them to part with valuable assets and their greatest player of all time.
The Argentine international had a lukewarm debut season at the Parc des Princes, scoring six goals in 26 Ligue 1 games, but he did have a hand in 26 goals from 34 matches overall.
PSG reclaimed the Ligue 1 title after losing it to LOSC Lille the previous season and Messi would have a better second season after finding his feet – 21 goals and 20 assists from 41 games in all competitions. PSG defended their league crown too.
Messi won the Best FIFA Men's Player in his debut season at PSG and won the World Cup with Argentine midway through his second, so he was a successful signing even if it was short-lived.
For two years, the Parisians had one of the great football players of all-time and won consecutive titles thanks to his help.
Messi has since left PSG, joining Inter Miami of the MLS, so they’ve completed one of the best free transfers too.
Paul Pogba (Manchester United to Juventus)
Pogba left Manchester United on a free transfer - a real coup for Juventus
He won four Serie A titles
Manchester United paid £89m to sign Pogba again in 2016
Pogba’s story is a funny one, having left Man Utd on a free transfer before returning years later for a club-record fee, but he was a real coup for Juventus at the beginning.
The French international was tipped for greatness after rising through the youth ranks to Man Utd’s first-team, but he left for Juventus in 2012 after refusing to sign a new deal.
Pogba made only seven appearances for United but was a regular at Juve. He spent four years in Turin, winning four Serie A titles and making the Serie A Team of the Year three times before United wanted him back.
The Red Devils paid £89m to sign Pogba in 2016, but he struggled for consistency up until his departure in 2022 - Pogba left United on a free transfer again with only a Europa League and EFL Cup to his name.
He’s since returned to Juve but hasn’t enjoyed the best start to life back in Italy due to injury problems - Pogba made only 10 appearances in all competitions last season.
Sol Campbell (Tottenham Hotspur to Arsenal)
Signing Sol Campbell to Arsenal was one of their most controversial moves
He was named in the PFA Team of the Year twice
Campbell left Arsenal for Portsmouth in 2006
Not only is this signing one of Arsenal’s greatest, but it’s also one of their most controversial. Sol Campbell moved from Tottenham Hotspur directly to the fierce rivals on a free transfer in 2001.
Campbell infamously said he’d be staying at Spurs when questioned about his future but made a U-turn on that decision when the chance to join Arsenal arose.
It’s embarrassing losing a talented player to a rival, but Tottenham didn’t even get a transfer fee as he was out of contract. Campbell will feel his decision was justified, however, after winning two Premier League titles and three FA Cups.
The England international was named in the PFA Team of the Year twice while with the Gunners and was at the peak of his powers on the international stage too.
Campbell would leave Arsenal for Portsmouth in 2006, having made 197 appearances across the board.
Andrea Pirlo (AC Milan to Juventus)
Pirlo joined AC Milan in 2001
He signed with Juventus in 2011 on a free transfer
He made Series A Team of the Year in four of his five seasons
This one must have hurt Milan. Pirlo joined the Rossoneri from rivals Inter Milan in 2001 and went on to make 401 appearances in all competitions before his departure in 2011, but why did Milan get rid?
The former Italian international endured an injury-hit final season at the San Siro, making just 17 Serie A appearances from a possible 38, so Milan parted ways with Pirlo aged 32.
The Rossoneri must have thought he wouldn’t have the legs to play at the top level anymore, but Milan were made to regret the decision after seeing Pirlo dominate from midfield at Juventus.
The Old Lady signed him on a Bosman transfer in 2011 and kept him for four years, during which time they won four Serie A titles and one Coppa Italia.
Pirlo made the Serie A Team of the Year in four of his five seasons and was a three-time winner of the Serie A Footballer of the Year.
His accurate passing and brilliant vision helped Juve create opportunities from deep, so he was more than influential.
Robert Lewandowski (Borussia Dortmund to Bayern Munich)
He was one of the best strikers in Europe
Lewandowski scored 344 goals from 375 games at Bayern
He joined Barcelona in Summer 2022
Dortmund losing Lewandowski for nothing definitely hurt them in 2014, having won two Bundesliga titles and one DFB-Pokal for BVB in the past.
The Polish international was one of the best strikers in Europe, going to Dortmund’s fierce rivals without a transfer fee being exchanged, so they learned a valuable lesson not to let star players run their contracts down.
Lewandowski scored 103 goals from 187 games for Dortmund but bagged 344 goals from 375 games at Bayern. He helped them win eight consecutive Bundesliga titles, three DFB-Pokals and one Champions League crown.
Lewandowski has since moved on from Bayern, joining Barcelona in the summer of 2022 and helping his new club win the Liga title in his debut season, so he’s won 11 league titles in the last 12 years.
Signing a player as talented as Lewandowski without spending a penny seems criminal, but Bayern were lucky the Polish international wasn’t interested in signing a new deal at Dortmund at the time.
With how prolific Lewandowski was at the Allianz Arena, he must be one of the best free transfers ever.
Have we missed any free transfers from our list? Tell us your top picks in the comments!
Read more awesome lists on our football blog
